Brown/Trinity MFA Program

The Brown/Trinity MFA Program was a collaborative graduate acting program between Brown University, one of the nation's most prestigious Ivy League institutions, and Trinity Repertory Company, a Tony Award-winning professional theater company, both located in Providence, Rhode Island. Established in the 1970s, the partnership represented a unique model in American theater education: students simultaneously pursued an MFA from Brown while performing in Trinity Rep's professional season, gaining an Ivy League degree and substantial professional credits in a single integrated program. The collaboration leveraged Brown's academic rigor and intellectual culture alongside Trinity Rep's artistic excellence and professional infrastructure, creating a training environment that was genuinely one-of-a-kind. For nearly five decades, the program produced graduates who went on to work at major regional theaters, on Broadway, and in film and television, carrying with them both the credential of a Brown University degree and the practical experience of having performed professionally throughout their training. Trinity Repertory Company itself is one of the most respected regional theaters in the country, having won the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1981. The program's intimate size — typically admitting fewer than ten students per year — ensured deeply personalized training and mentorship.

In January 2025, Brown University and Trinity Repertory Company announced the indefinite suspension of the MFA program, ceasing admissions for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond. Current students enrolled at the time of the announcement will complete their degrees through June 2026, but no new cohorts will be admitted until further notice. The reasons cited for the suspension include institutional challenges and the need to reassess the program's structure and sustainability. This suspension represents a significant loss for the landscape of graduate actor training, as the Brown/Trinity model — combining Ivy League education with professional repertory theater experience — had no direct equivalent at any other institution. For actors who had considered Brown/Trinity as a graduate school option, the suspension means exploring alternative programs that offer similar combinations of academic rigor and professional performance experience, such as Yale's partnership with Yale Repertory Theatre or the University of Washington's PATP. The program's legacy continues through its alumni, many of whom remain active in the profession and maintain the connections forged during their time in Providence.

When the program was active, admission required a rigorous audition process that evaluated acting ability, intellectual engagement, and ensemble compatibility. Applicants needed a bachelor's degree, though it did not need to be in theater, and the program particularly valued candidates who brought diverse life experience and intellectual curiosity alongside their performance skills. The audition process included prepared monologues, callbacks with exercises and interviews, and careful assessment of how candidates might contribute to the ensemble dynamic. The program was extraordinarily selective, typically admitting fewer than ten students from a substantial applicant pool each year. A distinctive feature of the admissions process was the program's emphasis on finding actors who could thrive in both the academic environment of Brown and the professional demands of Trinity Rep — candidates needed to demonstrate both intellectual and artistic readiness. As of 2025, the program is not accepting applications, and prospective students should monitor Brown University and Trinity Rep's official communications for any announcements about the program's future.

The three-year MFA curriculum was distinguished by its cross-disciplinary approach and its integration of academic study with professional practice. Acting students took directing classes, directors studied acting, and all students took playwriting — this interdisciplinary model ensured that graduates understood theater from multiple perspectives. The centerpiece of the training was the integration with Trinity Repertory Company's professional season: students performed in mainstage productions alongside professional company members, understudied roles, and gained Actors' Equity Association membership upon graduation. This meant that graduates left the program not only with an MFA from an Ivy League university but also with their Equity card and substantial professional credits on their resume. Classroom training covered acting technique, voice and speech, movement, text analysis, and devised theater, with faculty drawn from both Brown's academic ranks and Trinity Rep's professional company. The program also emphasized new work development, with students regularly performing in new plays and participating in workshop productions of emerging writers' work.

The Brown/Trinity program attracted a specific type of actor: intellectually curious performers who valued ensemble work, new play development, and the combination of academic rigor with professional practice. Students tended to be slightly older than typical graduate students, often arriving with professional experience and a clear artistic identity. Notable alumni include Andy Grotelueschen, a Tony nominee for Tootsie and founding member of Fiasco Theatre; Andrew Polec, who starred in Bat Out of Hell on the West End and national tour; Charlie Hudson III from NBC's Manifest; and numerous other working professionals in theater, film, and television. The program was particularly well-regarded in the regional theater world, with graduates occupying positions as artistic directors, company members, and leading actors at major theaters across the country. The ensemble-based training created strong bonds among cohort members that frequently led to professional collaborations years after graduation.

When the program was accepting students, all admitted candidates received full tuition coverage, health insurance, and dental insurance — making it one of the most financially generous MFA programs in the country alongside Yale and Juilliard. This full funding model meant that students could pursue three years of intensive training and professional performance without incurring any educational debt. The financial support, combined with Providence's relatively affordable cost of living compared to New York or Los Angeles, made the program exceptionally accessible from an economic standpoint. Students were responsible only for personal living expenses, which were manageable given Providence's moderate cost of living. The elimination of tuition costs allowed students to focus entirely on their artistic development and professional work at Trinity Rep without the financial stress that burdens students at unfunded programs. For comparison, programs at Columbia ($77,840/year) and NYU Tisch require students to navigate substantial tuition bills, making Brown/Trinity's fully funded model a significant advantage that is now unfortunately unavailable.

As of 2025, the Brown/Trinity MFA program is not accepting applications, making it unavailable to prospective students. For actors who were drawn to the program's unique combination of attributes, the closest alternatives are Yale's MFA program, which offers tuition-free training with professional repertory experience at Yale Rep; the University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program, a three-year MFA with professional company integration; and Florida State University's Asolo Conservatory, which partners with the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Actors who specifically value the Ivy League credential alongside professional training should consider Yale, which offers both an MFA from an Ivy League institution and integration with a professional theater. Prospective students should monitor Brown University and Trinity Rep's official channels for any future announcements about the program's potential restart.

If you were interested in the Brown/Trinity model, use this time to build your professional resume and training foundation so that you are a stronger candidate if the program resumes admissions in the future. Explore other fully funded MFA programs that offer professional performance experience during training — Yale, Juilliard, and the University of Washington's PATP are the strongest alternatives. Connect with Brown/Trinity alumni through professional networking events and social media, as the program's graduates are generally generous with their time and insights about the training approach. If the ensemble-based, intellectually engaged training philosophy appeals to you, look for programs that share those values even if they are not exact replicas of the Brown/Trinity model. Consider reaching out directly to Brown's Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies and Trinity Rep to express your interest in the program's future — institutions take note of demand when making decisions about program restoration. Keep an eye on the Providence theater community more broadly, as Trinity Rep continues to be an excellent place to see and engage with professional theater.